Sherdi: The Sleeping Sands

Journal of Ceurelian

I have to say what happened next was just awful.

The group split up and Eco, Orn, and I found some kobolds in the hallway and chased them down into what appeared to be some sort of kitchen. It would appear kobolds like to eat centipedes because that’s about damn-all I saw for the next minute or so as we desperately tried to kill everything. I think all of us were knocked out at some point but we still managed to not die. We probably should have, but I’m thankful we did not. Still not as bad as the rats, though.

Now, what happened next was truly the stuff of legends and dreams. We came across an alchemist, two of his friends, and a pseudodragon. Three kobolds quickly turned to 19, if my count was correct. The alchemist was a mage and at first I thought he had summoned reinforcements until I realized some of them were naked, others were fighting amongst themselves, and others still were fucking. I remember I thought to myself “gross” and “being a kobold must be awesome!” all at once. Why does anyone still practice the arcane? It’s just a terrible idea every time.

We managed to kill everyone in the room with much greater ease than the last. Orn decided to spare the pseudodragon for some reason, so we bound it up very securely so she could “befriend” it later. Hilariously, the pseudodragon would soon take quite the liking to Razzi after we all joined up again. We got a lot of loot in this room, mostly in the form of kobold heads, but there were some potions and I got a few scrolls and weird egg. It’s probably dead, but I’ve been keeping it warm in camp and every so often Razzi’s pet will lay on it and breath a little towards it, so who knows? There’s probably some ritual I could use it in eventually.

Hmmm, I wonder how the others made out? I never did ask them about what they found while we were split up.

(The journal entry continues, but details events that have not actually occurred yet, so to be continued)

Journal of Ceurelian

Busy day!

We hurried back to camp and gathered up everyone. Ghost came with this time, so I had a lot more fun. We managed to all fit through the secret entrance and emerged in what appeared to be a garden. I forgot there was a plant with us and offended her a bit by trampling their carrots. I’ll have to make more of an effort to remember she’s with us and has feelings. We kill creatures all the time and never let it get to us. Maybe it’s different with plants? I suppose there are not that many sentient ones around to be antagonistic. And I suppose if I just killed other creatures for no compelling reason I might upset some others in the party. Not Ghost, though, (happy face).

Many doors opened to the garden. Going through one of the unlocked ones we found another rat master. We got the drop on him this time and I managed to participate more this time. The wilden (I really need to learn her name. It’s something weird and, for some reason, elven) shot an arrow that created poisonous mushroom spores. I didn’t understand how that worked, but most magic doesn’t really make any sense and neither does she, so whatever. I forget the details, but we killed the scholarly kobold and his pets.

In the room we found books upon books on the study of rats. He also seemed to have a passing interest in artifacts and I think I may have figured out what my sword does and what it has been doing to me. Something will have to change.

In the next room we found nine more kobolds but killed only six. From there we entered another room and found one of the remaining two ogres. He was a beast, but asleep. We managed to do a great deal of roughing up on him before he came to. Still put up a good fight after, but we took him and his friend down all the same.

(The journal entry continues, but details events that have not actually occurred yet, so to be continued)

Journal of Ceurelian

More killing these past few days, though not as much as before and without Ghost, (sad face).

It looks like we’ve been tasked with obliterating the remaining kobolds. We were not sure where to begin looking, though. I wonder if we may have been able to figure something out if we went back to Meadowhaven? It’s no matter, we got what we needed by convincing Teri the Brickleaf Merchant, sister of Eram the Fishmonger, to accompany us and draw out an attack from the kobolds. She was eager to help out with the kobold genocide, so it wasn’t so much convincing as it was asking. What the hells is a brickleaf?

Anyway, a group of kobolds did attack us. I don’t really remember much of the attack, though; I was covered in rats most of the battle. It was horrible. My companions triumphed and we interrogated one of our enemies. I took his hand and he told us where they were coming from. After some small discussion of whether or not we could trust him and what to do with him I severed his head. I would have preferred to take him with us in case here were lying, but I was so damn frustrated by the conversation at that point. Rye headed back to camp and Eco, Rye, the wilden, and I head to where the kobold instructed us.

I had a good idea on the way to the “palace” of that condemned race of dogs-things. We would wait and ambush the next patrol that was sent out. Better to fight some cut off from the rest than go charging into the fray so soon. Also, we had not asked about any secret entrances before I killed the last kobold, so we could make use of another.

Eventually a patrol emerged, we followed them some way, then made quick work of them on the road. More interrogation, removed an eye, found the secret entrance. Nine kobolds killed so far this day. Razzi headed back and the wilden lady (I think they have genders, but maybe it’s just meaningless curves) went ahead to scout. Eco and I are waiting at the moment for her to come back and I was bored, hence this journal.

Shit, alarms. Well, they still do not seem to have spotted me and Eco, so I guess it’s just the woman. I wonder how far she managed to get and if she’ll make it back to us alive to tell us. If she dies I wonder if we’ll find a replacement or just keep going without her…

The nausea is getting worse, as is the regret. Ever since I picked up this sword I’ve been feeling worse and worse and do not know why. Perhaps after all this I will have time to find someone who can tell me more about what’s going on with me.

I think I see her in the distance running towards us. If anyone’s following her I’m going to be upset.

Journal of Ceurelian

Drawing the appropriately short straws, I found myself escorting a fishmonger for a few days. Silver lining: Ghost was with me. The black bastard woke me up with a rock the first night. Somehow I am less irritated when it comes from him. I suppose this is because I know not to expect any different. I put my armor on, grabbed my scourge, woke the others, and prepared to do battle with what turned out to be a scorpion. We went back to sleep instead.

The next day we were beset by a group of Kobolds. I do not recall how we killed them, but clearly we did. A day or two later, or perhaps on our way back to camp, we were ambushed by another damned scorpion. I killed it this time, but only with the help of the Deva. Ghost decided it would suit him better to do nothing. I was hurt. By poison. Ghost took the tail when we were finished. I’ll need to remember to do something terrible to that man at some point.

We delivered the fisherman, but not without learning a great deal about his trade. I will spare this document the details as I am hoping to let them slip from my memory as soon as is possible. Friendly guy, though. I tried my best to direct his attention towards the Deva, it seemed to work towards the end. I am sure they will miss each other terribly.

Our work behind us we had some time to relax, so the Deva, Ghost, and I headed into the city. It was the day of Bahamut, so the god-thing was excited. I thought about my sisters for some time that day and am reminded of them now. I hope they are well.

We managed to get the Deva to drink with us that night. To be honest I wasn’t certain if they were capable of it, but this one clearly was once his initial hesitation was lifted. I told him Bahamut sent me a vision and was waiting for him at the bottom of a pint, then kept telling him he was drinking from the wrong glass when he finished without meeting the dragon god. I hope I laugh this much every time I recall that. I’ll have to remember that logic in the future.

I woke up the next morning naked in a friend’s bed. Something awesome totally happened. After getting dressed and speaking with the Drow we discovered a murder had been committed that night. An unknown Eladrin male lay slain, the beautiful sword still in him. That sword belongs to me now. The blade appears magical, though we were unable to identify its exact qualities. It is truly a magnificent weapon. I shall use it for now until I find someone able to create a scourge of equal quality.

Ghost and I did some work to uncover to truth, but with few leads there was little we could do. We made a deal with the publishing company to share information, so I’ll remember to keep in touch with them. They seem to be a useful group of people.

Returning to the camp we received wind of a small group of Ogres, 3 in total, terrorizing the citizenry. There may also be a pink Dragon. Polka-dots? Regardless, we set off in search of a lead. We instead found one of the Ogres attacking Meadowhaven, home of Jhohn the Dog. The battle was crazy. Lots of heavy hits, and an equally surprising number of pathetic failures, some sadly my own. In the end we survived and managed to kill that particular Ogre, along with his war priest buddy.